“Dust Yourself Off” From Failure With These 11 Quotes
We’ve heard time and again that failure is a natural part of life — but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sting. Missing the mark, especially when we’ve put time and effort into a project or dream, can be devastating.
Whether we’re let go from a job we once envied or we find ourselves leaving what we thought would be a lifelong relationship, these moments can make us feel ashamed or discouraged. But after tending to those prickly feelings, we can start to look at these “failures” through a more hopeful lens — and allow their lessons to chart our way forward.
NBA legend Michael Jordan once shared that he missed more than 9,000 shots in his career — more than the average NBA player even takes. Writer Elizabeth Gilbert’s work was rejected for six years straight before her first publication. So many people we now see as wildly successful built their accomplishments on the backs of many, many failed attempts.
And we can learn from their approaches as we face our own failures: By reflecting on the ways in which something went wrong, we can learn how to avoid any potential pitfalls on our next try. We might even realize that the thing we were trying for wasn’t right for us in the first place. At our lowest point, it turns out, there is nothing but possibility.
If you feel you’ve hit rock bottom lately, we’re here for you. Read on for some quotes that might help you start looking up and moving forward.
